Week One = Done

First week of work is over and I've had so many "pinch me" moments it all feels like a blur. Wednesday and Thursday were "insurance school" and I now can add random facts about insurance to my repertoire of random knowledge. Then on Friday we got our work computers, installed the software we use, explored the company's intranet, and got some company swag in the form of computer bags. But enough about work, let's get to the weekend!

Friday evening my friend Ben picked me up and we headed to his sister's apartment in Brooklyn where we enjoyed a shin dig and met up with another one of our friends and my sorority sister, Alexa! That night I spent the night with Alexa in her apartment that's right by Coney Island. Many adventures that night and now I can say I've been through the Holland Tunnel, seen the base of the GIANT Freedom Tower, hung out with artsy Brooklyn people, hailed a cab, and ridden in the NY subway. And that's all just in one night.

On Saturday, Alexa and I headed into Manhattan to Flat Iron where she works. She's not in the actual building, but rather about a block away in the same district.

Just a major architectural landmark. No big deal or anything. 

From there we walked through some parks I forget the names of and a square I also forget the name of. We stopped in a bunch of random shops we thought looked cool and generally meandered towards Macy's. Holy poop, that Macy's is huge! And we only went on the first floor and looked at the purses! Alexa needs a new bag to take to/from work that will be cute and hold her crazy large computer so our needs were very specific and unfortunately nothing we liked was big enough or had a zipper and the hunt is still on. 

One thing we did find (but didn't buy, unfortunately) was this hilarious wallet. Those of you who are my snapchat friends probably got this picture... 

Claire's, you never disappoint 

After we did a lot of browsing at various shops we ventured into the madness of Times Square. We walked in and were just speechless. So. Many. People. We were there on a Saturday afternoon so we weren't surprised but still flabbergasted. This was my face as we walked around and tried not to lose each other in the sea of people. 

This picture doesn't do the madness justice. Stupid car is blocking the mass of people directly behind me

After walking around a little bit and almost getting trapped in the Hersey store (not a joke) we called it a day since we needed to go all the way back to Coney to get my stuff and then I had another trek back to New Jersey. Before I left Alexa and I walked past the theme park at Coney Island and I learned it's kinda really gross. I didn't expect much but it was kinda creepy, even on a Saturday afternoon in the summer.Yes, I know there is still major recovery from Sandy happening but it was just so sketchy. So so sketchy. Here are a few pictures I snapped before we scurried away. 

Then I had the wonderful journey from Coney Island to Jersey City. Not something I would recommend to anybody. Not horrible excatly, just long and made longer by delayed trains and a heavy bag. One funny thing did happen though. There was a family who had gotten on the subway somewhere in Brooklyn and took it almost as far as I did, so naturally their kids went a little stir crazy on the hour long ride. While Mom and Dad were chatting away and not paying any attention, their two kids (probably 3 and 4) were entertaining the entire car. The daughter was spinning around one of the poles (in a stripper like fashion) and falling over every time the train made any sort of bump or turn, which was quite frequently. However, she wasn't nearly as entertaining as the son. He decided the poles tasted really good. Like really really good. His must have been coated with something awesome because he went to town on that thing. People next to me were taking a video of it and the parents were off in their own little world not noticing, or not caring, about what was happening. Eventually the little boy got tired of eating the pole and joined his sister with the spinning. It was all too funny and made my night. When I was finally back in Hoboken I ventured out to the same pier that I had taken pictures from my first day and got shots of the city at night. Next time I need to remember my panoramic setting and better quality camera because these just don't do it justice. 

Lower Manhattan. The top of the Freedom Tower is hidden in the clouds.

So much prettier in person. Like 1,000,000 times prettier

Today's plans are to do some big kid things like set up what benefits I'll be electing and make my signature on my work email. I know, it all sounds so thrilling.